Caregiver Stories

A New Generation Discovers the Rewards of Caregiving

Family caregivers have always spanned different cultures, ages and occupations, but today’s millennial caregivers, who range from 22- to 37-years-old, are the most racially and ethnically diverse generation yet, according to a 2018 AARP report. They also comprise a large segment — nearly 25 percent — of the caregiving population. “Many baby boomer parents had children later in life so there’s a bigger age gap between them when the parents get sick in their 60s,” explains Barry J. Jacobs, a clinical psychologist, health care consultant and coauthor of AARP Meditations for Caregivers.

Given their ages and stages of life, millennial caregivers face some unique challenges. “They’re at an age where they’re developing careers, financial stability, social relationships and romantic relationships, and all of those things suffer to a degree because of their caregiving responsibilities,” Jacobs says.

These profiles of millennial caregivers provide an inside look at how they care for their loved ones while trying to establish lives of their own. —Stacey Colino

The Changing Roles of the Caregiver

The role of a family caregiver is anything but static. Besides juggling multiple responsibilities at any given time, caregivers often find themselves doing more tasks and confronting new needs as their loved one’s health, family dynamics and circumstances change over the course of weeks, months and years. “The process is challenging and there’s a pretty steep learning curve, but there are upsides — people often gain a sense of mastery they didn’t have before, and they grow personally and spiritually as they take on more roles and learn new skills while caring for a loved one,” says Jacobs.

These snapshots of caregivers illustrate the many different roles they take on as they care for their loved ones.

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